'I was born to play for United and born to manage Sunderland'

Roy Keane believes destiny is responsible for returning him to Old Trafford as manager of Sunderland this evening. "I was definitely born to play for Manchester United and I feel I was born to manage Sunderland," he explained yesterday. "Sometimes I believe the man upstairs has great plans for me."

For someone who likes to preach the time-honoured mantra about footballers largely making their own luck, that is quite a statement, but there is an air of almost religious conviction about Keane these days. After the unaccustomed shock of three successive defeats - the most recent Tuesday's ignominious Carling Cup exit at Luton - Sunderland's manager needs to draw on his reserves of self-belief. "I always said there would be setbacks," he insisted. "But I have great belief that this club will be very strong over the next few years. I have a vision."

More immediately there is the small matter of what even Sunderland's supremely emotionally controlled manager may find a poignant occasion to contend with. When he left United in November 2005 he made a deliberate decision to reject all opportunities to revisit Old Trafford and watch his former team-mates from the stands, so this will be his first reappearance in front of a crowd who still idolise him.

"I went to Old Trafford to watch last season's Chelsea v Blackburn FA Cup semi-final but I've not been back to see United since leaving. I made a conscious effort not to be one for returning," admitted Sir Alex Ferguson's former captain. "A lot of ex-United players can't resist going back. They like to be spotted in the crowd and get pats on the back but that is not for me. I might have to watch United as a manager but that will be it."

He will duly take his place in the away dugout this evening and he conceded: "I haven't a clue how I'll feel. There's no getting away from the fact that I loved every minute of my time at United and I was definitely born to play for them but there's no point dwelling on it and getting all emotional. You can't get sidetracked by emotions in this game, and I won't be. I've got enough on my plate. And I'm not expecting any hugs and kisses. United will want to beat us."

If they do, critics will increasingly start questioning Keane's managerial ability and a transfer policy that has seen him invest £36m on 12 domestic-based players, several of whom are former team-mates of Sunderland's manager.

"History suggests I have not been great at dealing with setbacks and I am a bloody bad loser," admitted Keane, a touch of understatement entering his voice. "Losing three games in a row is certainly not nice. I have felt pretty bad but you try to be positive even if you have to fake it. Fake it to make it, as they say. I've been doing that."

Sunderland watchers wonder if he is deliberately creating a mini Old Trafford by the river Wear. After all, his current squad and staff feature nine United old boys including Andy Cole, Kieran Richardson and Dwight Yorke.

"We tried to get the United team bus driver as well but he wouldn't come," joked Keane. "I have not necessarily gone out of my way to bring ex-United players and staff to the club. It just worked out that way, and it helped I knew them personally.

"Things will be done differently in the future. We'll bring in different types of players, but I've only been here 12 months and it takes time to get things right. We are still looking at the scouting system."

Should he require any advice, the Irishman can always pick up the phone to Ferguson, a man he believes is partly responsible for shaping his destiny. "I remember talking to him once when we got off the bus here before a game," recalled Keane. "He said, 'Sunderland is a big bloody club.' That stuck with me."